Va’etchanan /And I Pleaded

Shabbat Shalom!

Torah Reading

Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11;

23 “Then I pleaded with YAHUVEH, 24 ‘YAHUVEH Elohim, you have begun to reveal your greatness to your servant, and your strong hand — for what other ELOHIM is there in heaven or on earth that can do the works and mighty deeds that you do? 25 Please! Let me go across and see the good land on the other side of the Yarden, that wonderful hill-country and the L’vanon!’ 26 But YAHUVEH was angry with me on account of you, and he didn’t listen to me. YAHUVEH said to me, ‘Enough from you! Don’t say another word to me about this matter! 27 Climb up to the top of Pisgah and look out to the west, north, south and east. Look with your eyes — but you will not go across this Yarden. 28 However, commission Y’hoshua, encourage him and strengthen him; for he will lead this people across and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.’ 29 So we stayed in the valley across from Beit-P‘or.

4 “Now, Isra’el, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that YAHUVEH, the ELOHIM of your fathers, is giving you. 2 In order to obey the mitzvot of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it. 3 You saw with your own eyes what YAHUVEH did at Ba‘al-P‘or, that YAHUVEH destroyed from among you all the men who followed Ba‘al-P‘or; 4 but you who stuck with YAHUVEH your ELOHIM are still alive today, every one of you. (ii) 5 Look, I have taught you laws and rulings, just as YAHUVEH my ELOHIM ordered me, so that you can behave accordingly in the land where you are going in order to take possession of it. 6 Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has ELOHIM as close to them as YAHUVEH our ELOHIM is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today? 9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves diligently as long as you live, so that you won’t forget what you saw with your own eyes, so that these things won’t vanish from your hearts. Rather, make them known to your children and grandchildren — 10 the day you stood before YAHUVEH your ELOHIM at Horev, when YAHUVEH said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, and I will make them hear my very words, so that they will learn to hold me in awe as long as they live on earth, and so that they will teach their children.’ 11 You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain; and the mountain blazed with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, clouds and thick mist. 12 Then YAHUVEH spoke to you out of the fire! You heard the sound of words but saw no shape, there was only a voice. 13 He proclaimed his covenant to you, which he ordered you to obey, the Ten Words; and he wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 At that time YAHUVEH ordered me to teach you laws and rulings, so that you would live by them in the land you are entering in order to take possession of it.

15 “Therefore, watch out for yourselves! Since you did not see a shape of any kind on the day YAHUVEH spoke to you in Horev from the fire, 16 do not become corrupt and make yourselves a carved image having the shape of any figure — not a representation of a human being, male or female, 17 or a representation of any animal on earth, or a representation of any bird that flies in the air, 18 or a representation of anything that creeps along on the ground, or a representation of any fish in the water below the shoreline. 19 For the same reason, do not look up at the sky, at the sun, moon, stars and everything in the sky, and be drawn away to worship and serve them; YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has allotted these to all the peoples under the entire sky. 20 No, you YAHUVEH has taken and brought out of the smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of inheritance for him, as you are today.

21 “But YAHUVEH was angry with me on account of you and swore that I would not cross the Yarden and go into that good land, which YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is giving you to inherit. 22 Rather, I must die in this land and not cross the Yarden; but you are to cross and take possession of that good land. 23 Watch out for yourselves, so that you won’t forget the covenant of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, which he made with you, and make yourself a carved image, a representation of anything forbidden to you by YAHUVEH your ELOHIM. 24 For YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is a consuming fire, a jealous ELOHIM.

25 “When you have had children and grandchildren, lived a long time in the land, become corrupt and made a carved image, a representation of something, and thus done what is evil in the sight of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM and provoked him; 26 I call on the sky and the earth to witness against you today that you will quickly disappear from the land that you are crossing the Yarden to possess. You will not prolong your days there but will be completely destroyed. 27 YAHUVEH will scatter you among the peoples; and among the nations to which YAHUVEH will lead you away, you will be left few in number. 28 There you will serve ELOHIMs which are the product of human hands, made of wood and stone, which can’t see, hear, eat or smell. 29 However, from there you will seek YAHUVEH your ELOHIM; and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and being. 30 In your distress, when all these things have come upon you, in the acharit-hayamim, you will return to YAHUVEH your ELOHIM and listen to what he says; 31 for YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is a merciful ELOHIM. He will not fail you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.

32 “Indeed, inquire about the past, before you were born: since the day ELOHIM created human beings on the earth, from one end of heaven to the other, has there ever been anything as wonderful as this? Has anyone heard anything like it? 33 Did any other people ever hear the voice of ELOHIM speaking out of a fire, as you have heard, and stay alive? 34 Or has ELOHIM ever tried to go and take for himself a nation from the very bowels of another nation, by means of ordeals, signs, wonders, war, a mighty hand, an outstretched arm and great terrors — like all that YAHUVEH your ELOHIM did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35 This was shown to you, so that you would know that YAHUVEH is ELOHIM, and there is no other beside him. 36 From heaven he caused you to hear his voice, in order to instruct you; and on earth he caused you to see his great fire; and you heard his very words coming out from the fire. 37 Because he loved your ancestors, chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt with his presence and great power, 38 in order to drive out ahead of you nations greater and stronger than you, so that he could bring you in and give you their land as an inheritance, as is the case today; 39 know today, and establish it in your heart, that YAHUVEH is ELOHIM in heaven above and on earth below — there is no other. 40 Therefore, you are to keep his laws and mitzvot which I am giving you today, so that it will go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days in the land YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is giving you forever.”

(A: iii) 41 Then Moshe separated three cities on the east side of the Yarden, toward the sunrise, 42 to which a killer might flee, that is, someone who kills by mistake a person whom he did not previously hate, and upon fleeing to one of these cities might live there. 43 The cities were Betzer in the desert, in the flatland, for the Re’uveni; Ramot in Gil‘ad for the Gadi; and Golan in Bashan for the M’nashi.

44 This is the Torah which Moshe placed before the people of Isra’el — 45 these are the instructions, laws and rulings which Moshe presented to the people of Isra’el after they had come out of Egypt — 46 beyond the Yarden River, in the valley across from Beit-P‘or, in the land of Sichon king of the Emori, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moshe and the people of Isra’el defeated when they came out of Egypt; 47 and they took possession of his land and the land of ‘Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Emori, who were beyond the Yarden toward the sunrise; 48 from ‘Aro‘er on the edge of the Arnon Valley to Mount Si’on,” that is, Mount Hermon, 49 “with all the ‘Aravah beyond the Yarden eastward, all the way to the Dead Sea at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah.

5 (A: iv, S: iii) Then Moshe called to all Isra’el and said to them, “Listen, Isra’el, to the laws and rulings which I am announcing in your hearing today, so that you will learn them and take care to obey them. 2 YAHUVEH our ELOHIM made a covenant with us at Horev. 3 YAHUVEH did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us — with us, who are all of us here alive today. 4 YAHUVEH spoke with you face to face from the fire on the mountain. 5 At that time I stood between YAHUVEH and you in order to tell you what YAHUVEH was saying; because, on account of the fire, you were afraid and wouldn’t go up onto the mountain. He said,

א 6 “‘I am YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.

ב 7 “‘You are to have no other ELOHIMs before me. 8 You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline — 9 you are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, am a jealous ELOHIM, punishing the children for the sins of the parents, also the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 10 but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.

ג 11 “‘You are not to misuse the name of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, because YAHUVEH will not leave unpunished someone who misuses his name.

ד 12 “‘Observe the day of Shabbat, to set it apart as holy, as YAHUVEH your ELOHIM ordered you to do. 13 You have six days to labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for YAHUVEH your ELOHIM. On it you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your ox, your donkey or any of your other livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property — so that your male and female servants can rest just as you do. 15 You are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and YAHUVEH your ELOHIM brought you out from there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has ordered you to keep the day of Shabbat.

ה 16 “‘Honor your father and mother, as YAHUVEH your ELOHIM ordered you to do, so that you will live long and have things go well with you in the land YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is giving you.

ו 17 “‘Do not murder.

ז (18) “‘Do not commit adultery.

ח (19) “‘Do not steal.

ט (20) “‘Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.

י 18 (21) “‘Do not covet your neighbor’s wife; do not covet your neighbor’s house, his field, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’

(A: v, S: iv) 19 (22) “These words YAHUVEH spoke to your entire gathering at the mountain from fire, cloud and thick mist, in a loud voice; then it ceased. But he wrote them on two stone tablets, which he gave to me. 20 (23) When you heard the voice coming out of the darkness, as the mountain blazed with fire, you came to me, all the heads of your tribes and your leaders, 21 (24) and said, ‘Here, YAHUVEH our ELOHIM has shown us his glory and his greatness! We have heard his voice coming from the fire, and we have seen today that ELOHIM does speak with human beings, and they stay alive. 22 (25) But why should we keep risking death? This great fire will consume us! If we hear the voice of YAHUVEH our ELOHIM any more, we will die! 23 (26) For who is there of all humanity that has heard the voice of the living ELOHIM speaking from the fire, as we have, and stayed alive? 24 (27) You, go near; and hear everything YAHUVEH our ELOHIM says. Then you will tell us everything YAHUVEH our ELOHIM says to you; and we will listen to it and do it.’

25 (28) “YAHUVEH heard what you were saying when you spoke to me, and YAHUVEH said to me, ‘I have heard what this people has said when speaking to you, and everything they have said is good. 26 (29) Oh, how I wish their hearts would stay like this always, that they would fear me and obey all my mitzvot; so that it would go well with them and their children forever. 27 (30) Go, tell them to return to their tents. 28 (31) But you, stand here by me; and I will tell you all the mitzvot, laws and rulings which you are to teach them, so that they can obey them in the land I am giving them as their possession.’

29 (32) “Therefore you are to be careful to do as YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has ordered you; you are not to deviate either to the right or the left. 30 (33) You are to follow the entire way which YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has ordered you; so that you will live, things will go well with you, and you will live long in the land you are about to possess.

6 “Now this is the mitzvah, the laws and rulings which YAHUVEH your ELOHIM ordered me to teach you for you to obey in the land you are crossing over to possess, 2 so that you will fear YAHUVEH your ELOHIM and observe all his regulations and mitzvot that I am giving you — you, your child and your grandchild — as long as you live, and so that you will have long life. 3 Therefore listen, Isra’el, and take care to obey, so that things will go well with you, and so that you will increase greatly, as YAHUVEH, the ELOHIM of your ancestors, promised you by giving you a land flowing with milk and honey.

(A:vi, S: v) 4 “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! YAHUVEH Eloheinu, YAHUVEH echad [Hear, Isra’el! YAHUVEH our ELOHIM, YAHUVEH is one]; 5 and you are to love YAHUVEH your ELOHIM with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.

(S: vi) 10 “When YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has brought you into the land he swore to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov that he would give you — cities great and prosperous, which you didn’t build; 11 houses full of all sorts of good things, which you didn’t fill; water cisterns dug out, which you didn’t dig; vineyards and olive trees, which you didn’t plant — and you have eaten your fill; 12 then be careful not to forget YAHUVEH, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. 13 You are to fear YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, serve him and swear by his name. 14 You are not to follow other ELOHIMs, chosen from the ELOHIMs of the peoples around you; 15 because YAHUVEH, your ELOHIM, who is here with you, is a jealous ELOHIM. If you do, the anger of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM will flare up against you and he will destroy you from the face of the earth. 16 Do not put YAHUVEH your ELOHIM to the test, as you tested him at Massah [testing]. 17 Observe diligently the mitzvot of YAHUVEH your ELOHIM, and his instructions and laws which he has given you. 18 You are to do what is right and good in the sight of YAHUVEH, so that things will go well with you, and you will enter and possess the good land YAHUVEH swore to your ancestors, 19 expelling all your enemies ahead of you, as YAHUVEH said.

20 “Some day your child will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of the instructions, laws and rulings which YAHUVEH our ELOHIM has laid down for you?’ 21 Then you will tell your child, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and YAHUVEH brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. 22 YAHUVEH worked great and terrible signs and wonders against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household, before our very eyes. 23 He brought us out from there in order to bring us to the land he had sworn to our ancestors that he would give us. 24 YAHUVEH ordered us to observe all these laws, to fear YAHUVEH our ELOHIM, always for our own good, so that he might keep us alive, as we are today. 25 It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to obey all these mitzvot before YAHUVEH our ELOHIM, just as he ordered us to do.’”

7 (vii) “YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is going to bring you into the land you will enter in order to take possession of it, and he will expel many nations ahead of you — the Hitti, Girgashi, Emori, Kena‘ani, P’rizi, Hivi and Y’vusi, seven nations bigger and stronger than you. 2 When he does this, when YAHUVEH your ELOHIM hands them over ahead of you, and you defeat them, you are to destroy them completely! Do not make any covenant with them. Show them no mercy. 3 Don’t intermarry with them — don’t give your daughter to his son, and don’t take his daughter for your son. 4 For he will turn your children away from following me in order to serve other ELOHIMs. If this happens, the anger of YAHUVEH will flare up against you, and he will quickly destroy you. 5 No, treat them this way: break down their altars, smash their standing-stones to pieces, cut down their sacred poles and burn up their carved images completely. 6 For you are a people set apart as holy for YAHUVEH your ELOHIM. YAHUVEH your ELOHIM has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure. 7 YAHUVEH didn’t set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more than any other people — on the contrary, you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 Rather, it was because YAHUVEH loved you, and because he wanted to keep the oath which he had sworn to your ancestors, that YAHUVEH brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from a life of slavery under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Maftir) 9 From this you can know that YAHUVEH your ELOHIM is indeed ELOHIM, the faithful ELOHIM, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot, to a thousand generations. 10 But he repays those who hate him to their face and destroys them. He will not be slow to deal with someone who hates him; he will repay him to his face. 11 Therefore, you are to keep the mitzvot, laws and rulings which I am giving you today, and obey them.

Prophetic Reading

Isaiah 40:1–26;

“Comfort and keep comforting my people,” says your ELOHIM.
2
“Tell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her
that she has completed her time of service,
that her guilt has been paid off,
that she has received at the hand of YAHUVEH
double for all her sins.”

3
A voice cries out:

“Clear a road through the desert for YAHUVEH!
Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our ELOHIM!
4
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill lowered,
the bumpy places made level
and the crags become a plain.
5
Then the glory of YAHUVEH will be revealed;
all humankind together will see it,
for the mouth of YAHUVEH has spoken.”

6
A voice says, “Proclaim!”
And I answer, “What should I proclaim?”
“All humanity is merely grass,
all its kindness like wildflowers:
7
the grass dries up, the flower fades,
when a wind from YAHUVEH blows on it.
Surely the people are grass!
8
The grass dries up, the flower fades;
but the word of our ELOHIM will stand forever.”

9
You who bring good news to Tziyon,
get yourself up on a high mountain;
you who bring good news to Yerushalayim,
cry out at the top of your voice!
Don’t be afraid to shout out loud!
Say to the cities of Y’hudah,
“Here is your ELOHIM!
10
Here comes YAHUVEH Elohim with power,
and his arm will rule for him.
Look! His reward is with him,
and his recompense is before him.
11
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering his lambs with his arm,
carrying them against his chest,
gently leading the mother sheep.”

12
Who has counted the handfuls of water in the sea,
measured off the sky with a ruler,
gauged how much dust there is on the earth,
weighed the mountains on scales, or the hills in a balance?
13
Who has measured the Spirit of YAHUVEH?
Who has been his counselor, instructing him?
14
Whom did he consult, to gain understanding?
Who taught him how to judge,
taught him what he needed to know,
showed him how to discern?

15
The nations are like a drop in a bucket,
they count like a grain of dust on the scales.
The islands weigh as little as specks of dust.
16
The L’vanon would not suffice for fuel
or its animals be enough for burnt offerings.
17
Before him all the nations are like nothing.
He regards them as less than nothing.

18
With whom, then, will you compare ELOHIM?
By what standard will you evaluate him?
19
An image made by a craftsman,
which a goldsmith overlays with gold,
for which he then casts silver chains?
20
A man too poor to afford an offering
chooses a piece of wood that won’t rot,
then seeks out a skilled artisan
to prepare an image that won’t fall over.

21
Don’t you know? Don’t you hear?
Haven’t you been told from the start?
Don’t you understand how the earth is set up?
22
He who sits above the circle of the earth —
for whom its inhabitants appear like grasshoppers —
stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23
He reduces princes to nothing,
the rulers of the earth to emptiness.
24
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely their stem taken root in the ground,
when he blows on them, they dry up,
and the whirlwind carries them off like straw.
25
“With whom, then, will you compare me?
With whom am I equal?” asks the Holy One.

26
Turn your eyes to the heavens!
See who created these?
He brings out the army of them in sequence,
summoning each by name.
Through his great might and his massive strength,
not one of them is missing.

John 10:1–42

“Yes, indeed! I tell you, the person who doesn’t enter the sheep-pen through the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who goes in through the gate is the sheep’s own shepherd. 3 This is the one the gate-keeper admits, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep, each one by name, and leads them out. 4 After taking out all that are his own, he goes on ahead of them; and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They never follow a stranger but will run away from him, because strangers’ voices are unfamiliar to them.”

6 YAHUSHUA used this indirect manner of speaking with them, but they didn’t understand what he was talking to them about. 7 So YAHUSHUA said to them again, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he isn’t a shepherd and the sheep aren’t his own, sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf drags them off and scatters them. 13 The hired worker behaves like this because that’s all he is, a hired worker; so it doesn’t matter to him what happens to the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me — 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father — and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep. 16 Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17 “This is why the Father loves me: because I lay down my life — in order to take it up again! 18 No one takes it away from me; on the contrary, I lay it down of my own free will. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”

19 Again there was a split among the Judeans because of what he said. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon!” and “He’s meshugga! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the deeds of a man who is demonized — how can a demon open blind people’s eyes?”

22 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and YAHUSHUA was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade. 24 So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!” 25 YAHUSHUA answered them, “I have already told you, and you don’t trust me. The works I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, 26 but the reason you don’t trust is that you are not included among my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Once again the Judeans picked up rocks in order to stone him. 32 YAHUSHUA answered them, “You have seen me do many good deeds that reflect the Father’s power; for which one of these deeds are you stoning me?” 33 The Judeans replied, “We are not stoning you for any good deed, but for blasphemy — because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God [a].” 34 YAHUSHUA answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Torah, ‘I have said, “You people are Elohim’ ”?[b] 35 If he called ‘elohim’ the people to whom the word of Elohim was addressed (and the Tanakh cannot be broken), 36 then are you telling the one whom the Father set apart as holy and sent into the world, ‘You are committing blasphemy,’ just because I said, ‘I am a son of Elohim’?

37 “If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father’s power, don’t trust me. 38 But if I am, then, even if you don’t trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is united with me, and I am united with the Father.” 39 One more time they tried to arrest him, but he slipped out of their hands.

40 He went off again beyond the Yarden, where Yochanan had been immersing at first, and stayed there. 41 Many people came to him and said, “Yochanan performed no miracles, but everything Yochanan said about this man was true.” 42 And many people there put their trust in him.

AmightyWind Prophecies

This is from Prophecy 105, YAHUVEH said to put this up on all Prophecies from now on: I warned you a long time ago Elisabeth (Elisheva) not to name this Ministry after a man or a woman even before there was a Ministry. I put it in your spirit for none of this has been done by your hand, none of this has come forth from your mouth. It is from the Mouth of YAHUVEH that has given birth. It is from the Mouth of YAHUSHUA your MASHIACH that has given birth. It is from the Mouth of the RUACH ha KODESH your IMMAYAH that has given birth. If it had only been by your hand it would have failed long ago. It is by the SHKHINYAH GLORY’S Wind that blows across this earth, the Holy Wind of Revival, it is not by your breath or it would have failed. (Isaiah 42:8)

July 27, 2018

Torah Portion: The Jealous God

Prophecy 118 Beware The Great Tribulation Is A Breath Away!

No one is perfect, everyone is a work in progress but I tell you this, when it’s time to come get YAHUSHUA’s Bride it will be when your heavenly grades are at the highest level, when each day you strive to obey ME in every way, when you make your bodies living sacrifices, when you know the first Torah Law, (1st Commandment – Thou shalt have no other Gods before ME) and not for the sake of a spouse or loved one will you break it even if it means the end of your marriage. You realize nobody comes before YAHUVEH/YAHWEH, YAHUSHUA and the RUACH ha KODESH.

The strongest and most blessed marriages will be those that keep the First Commandment and both of them will be ‘out of balance’ in their love and obedience for YAHUSHUA, they will both love YAHUSHUA more than each other or anyone else. YAHUSHUA is the Lover of their life, soul and spirit and when I speak of ‘out of balance’ isn’t that what it should be when you love YAHUSHUA above all else? You are on this earth for such a short time. This is just one breath in your life. We are talking about eternity in Heaven.

Oh Beloved Bride of MINE, Beloved Bride of YAHUSHUA ha MASHIACH, listen to ME, let nothing be more important than the ONE who causes your heart to beat, the ONE who breathes life through you. Oh Beloved One, no one can love you like I, YAHUVEH/YAHWEH, do. Does the one that you call your loved one, your spouse, know the number of hairs on your head? (YAHUVEH/YAHWEH is weeping through Elisabeth [Elisheva] as HE said this, when HE spoke of how much HE loves HIS Bride.) Do not allow I, YAHUVEH/YAHWEH and YAHUSHUA to become last on your lips.

Oh, you lukewarm puke Christians, the ones YAHUSHUA will spew forth as vomit out of HIS mouth, this is why your love has waxed cold. You put so many other loves before US, your worldly lust, fleshly desires, above US, yes, even those that call themselves MINE and dare to call yourself Christians! And you wonder why you no longer can discern the Truth from the lies, but you stone the Holy and this Ministry speaking forth just as surely as Stephen was stoned. (Acts 7:59) I speak to the puke lukewarm Christians, you do not have to remain puke and vomit! It is your choice!

I sent this Ministry and other Ministries and individuals who are part of the Holy Bride of YAHUSHUA ha MASHIACH to warn you! I sent this Elijah of New [in Hebrew, Eliyahu] and I don’t care whether you like to hear this or not, but I used MY Elijah of New [in Hebrew, Eliyahu] to birth this Ministry forth and that started in America and is now all over the world, to warn, rebuke, and encourage. I not only speak forth blessings but I, YAHUVEH/YAHWEH, speak forth curses. Enough is enough! I will not apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!

This world has become a Sodom and Gomorrah in MY eyes. Shame on you! Shame on you who do not defend the Holy Ones who speak forth these warnings!

Prophecy 109 I, YAHUVEH, Say Thank You For Your Faithfulness!

And now I speak not only to you, but I speak to the faithful YDS’s (YAHUSHUA’S Demon Stompers prayer intercessors) for they do the same. This is the mark; this is the seal of those who are called the Bride of YAHUSHUA. They are faithful. They are loyal. They will not compromise. They will not back down. They will stand for what is right. They will rebuke what is wrong.

What kind of marriage would you [husbands and wives] have if you did not know one another were faithful? I do not have to be concerned that your eye would go for a false god because I know you are faithful. So you Thank ME for MY faithfulness. I Thank you for your faithfulness.

I Thank you for all the times that you make your plans and say, “I will do this or that on this day,” and I Thank you for your faithfulness even when I rip your plans up and say, “No MY Children, you’re going to do it this way.” You faithfully still give ME the praise and say, “Abba YAHUVEH have it YOUR way.” You faithfully strive to please and obey. So then MY Children I ask you this question. Why would I not want to abundantly bless you in every way? When I ask you to take the greatest step of faith, why would I not faithfully protect you, bless you as long as you’re doing it MY way?

I speak this message to all, all, all who put I, YAHUVEH, and YAHUSHUA and the Precious RUACH ha KODESH your IMMAYAH first in your life and your love. I speak to all the Bride of YAHUSHUA. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your faithfulness, that you continually rebuke satan. You will not compromise with sin. Your eyes are ever on Heaven. Thank you for your faithfulness and be assured as you are faithful unto ME, I am faithful unto you. MY eye is ever on you. MY ear is inclined to every word you speak.

Torah Portion: Three Rebukes

Prophecy 63 Oh Israel Where Is Your Blood Sacrifice?

Oh Israel, Oh how I weep. Yes, I, YAHUVEH, Creator of all, Creator of even time itself. I weep for I have poured out MY love, poured out MY mercy, given MY very best, MY Beloved Son YAHUSHUA. I, YAHUVEH, gave YAHUSHUA who poured out HIS Blood to redeem the sins of Adam and Eve. Oh Israel, the Blood of YAHUSHUA still saturates your soil. Why do you think satan hates you? Why do you think he hates you more than any people or any nation? Because I, YAHUVEH, came to you in the flesh through MY Son YAHUSHUA, MY Beloved Son.

I, YAHUVEH, wait for you oh Israel. Oh Israel, you who observe and remember the Jewish feasts and holy days, do you not yet see YAHUSHUA is in all of them? Oh Israel, return to ME in Holiness. Turn away from your sins in true repentance in the Name of MY Son YAHUSHUA. Oh Israel, I weep for your pain. But remember, as I am Holy, so too you must be set apart and be Holy.

Do you really want to be judged by the laws I gave Moses, as well as Moses will judge you without any mercy. Since you reject the only intercessor, the only Perfect Lamb of YAHUVEH’s, YAHUSHUA will say to those who depend on the old blood covenant to save you. Those who are depending on this blood covenant, beware! HE will say, “You choose to be judged by the old blood covenant, you will be judged by Moses.” Since none are perfect, woe be onto those who are judged by Moses. None will be spared. Hell and the Lake of Fire will be your eternal home. Everyone is making their reservations for eternity.

No one is guaranteed another second of life. All who are at I, YAHUVEH’s mercy, today is the day of your salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Prophecy 87 Israel, Oh Israel, Hear Oh Israel, Jerusalem And The Rest Of The World, What I, YAHUVEH, Have To Say!

Hear oh Beloved Israel, Jerusalem and the rest of the World. Can’t you hear your Creator weep and travail at how far you have gone astray from MY Holiness? You cannot say you do not know right from wrong for oh Israel and Jerusalem did I not write MY Torah on your hearts and did I not command you to teach the Torah laws to your children? Are you not the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Did you not learn anything from your King David and from Joshua? So what is your excuse?

What defense do you have to allow the abominations such as the homosexual propaganda directed at your youth to pervert them? Why do you welcome what I call an abomination and a mockery of marriage? Do you claim ignorance to MY Tanakh? Do you not understand how you bring shame to all that is Holy for allowing this perversion to enter into what was once called the Holy City?

For those of you in Israel and Jerusalem who do weep and mourn for the evil brought to Israel and you did your best to protest, know that I will reward you in the measure you protest against the homosexual spirit and the evil spirit of Molech called abortion. Why oh Israel, do your own female soldiers murder the innocent babies while in their womb instead of remaining chaste? Do you not understand I will not bless you until you obey and repent and turn from your wicked ways and be Holy unto I, YAHUVEH?

Oh Israel and Jerusalem, where is the fear, obedience, reverence and Holy awe your forefathers Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and Joshua had? Need I go on? Oh men of Israel, why do you think your military strength make you men of valor? Do you not understand it is your righteousness through MY SON YAHUSHUA that will cause ME to fight your battles and you will win?

Oh Women of Israel and Jerusalem, where are the Holy vessels who fear I, YAHUVEH, more than you fear what men say? Where are the women of Israel with the Holiness and obedience and faith like unto a Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Esther or Miryam? Why are the Delilah’s and spirit of Jezebel allowed to defile what is meant to be Holy? Do you not know that one of MY Two Witnesses will have a spirit like unto Deborah who was Judge of all of Israel.

How can you dare ask ME to bless Israel and Jerusalem until you stand for Holiness? Can you not see I am fair in all ways; I am almighty in love and in war. I bless those that obey I, YAHUVEH, and I curse those that disobey. Can you not see it is written in your own Torah and Tanakh there is sacred anointing power in MY Name which is YAHUVEH? Does not MY Word say in Psalm 91 “I will set him on high because he has known MY Name?” Why do you not study for yourself and count how many times I have pronounced blessings on those who know and use MY SACRED HEBREW Name? Why have you allowed the Rabbi’s to steal this blessing from you? This is not always the way it was. What loving Father hides his name from his child?

MY Name is YAHUVEH and it matters not to ME how you spell it or pronounce it as long as you acknowledge MY Name has YAH in it and so does MY SON the only MESSIAH his Name is YAHUSHUA it matters not how you spell it as long as you keep MY Name YAH in it. Our Name is not merely a title like HaShem or Lord, or Adonai. MY Name is above all names and it is YAHUVEH. Take back what the Rabbi’s have stolen from you. You take MY Name in vain when you spell it G-D or abbreviate it with YHVH or YHWH for how is that pronounced? You have a name, what makes you think I your Creator do not have a name? When you pray call ME by MY Name, YAHUVEH. Those with spiritual ears to hear will listen all others will remain deaf.

Prophecy 132 Israel I love You! But I Rebuke You!

Oh Israel! Oh Israel! I hold you more accountable. For you speak all the right words (Is 29:13) but until you give your heart to ME, until you accept the SHED BLOOD at Calvary (Zc 12:10; 13:1), I cannot forgive you!

Oh but when this Word is spoken forth, there’s a new Anointing this day and oh so many shall hear and they shall come running to ME! They shall come running like a little child! They shall leap with joy!

For you see this Ministry is no ordinary ministry! I have brought the spirits of Eliyahu & Moshe together as I bring their love together, as I bring the leadership together. And now I bring you, oh Israel.

Oh Israel!

You will be hated and you are hated because you are so set apart but you are no longer Holy! Look what you’ve allowed!

GAY PRIDE PARADES? ABORTIONS! HOW CAN YOU READ THE TORAH PORTION? WITHOUT FALLING ON YOUR KNEES AND REPENTING BEFORE ABBA YAHUVEH! HOW CAN YOU DO THESE TRADITIONS? THAT LOOK SO HOLY! AND NOT REPENT FOR WHAT YOUR LAND IS DOING?

AND I WEEP, I WEEP! I WEEP! WHERE IS THE MORALITY IN ISRAEL! WHERE IS THE STANDARD OF HOLINESS!

AWAY, AWAY, AWAY! AWAY FROM ME! WHEN YOU READ NOTHING BUT THE TORAH AND YET YOU PUT NO REPENTANCE IN IT-REPENT!

Cry out for your land, oh Israel!

WHERE IS THE LEADERSHIP? NETANYAHU! YOU WERE SENT AS A PROPHET UNTO [THE U.S.] CONGRESS!7 YOU’RE ALL THAT I COULD FIND! But why do you return back to Israel and tell them not to repent for their sins!

THE BLOOD OF THE UNBORN! DRENCHES YOUR HANDS! THE ABORTIONS! DO YOU NOT KNOW-these babies, these innocent little foetuses, are offered up to the god moloch (Lv 18:21)? OFFERED UP TO SATAN!

Come to ME! With repentance and tears! These are the ones I’m going to save! These are the ones I will protect! Stop compromising! This world will always hate you, but I-oh Israel, I YAHUSHUA-I love you! Your ABBA YAH loves you!

Stop fearing the NAME of your HEAVENLY FATHER!

Have you not read Psalm 91 [vv 14-16]? I HEAR IT! And yet you dare take MY NAME in vain by not allowing it to even be spoken. You think this honors ME when I say again and again-ABBA YAH, again and again tells you, “In MY NAME!” “In MY NAME!” “In MY NAME!” “Call out in the NAME!” Fear not the NAME of YAHUVEH!

Come to ME! For the Time of Jacob’s Trouble & Sorrow is so soon upon you!

Come to ME! Learn of ME! And be warned-even this Word coming forth now. That which will come as the false messiah (Zc 11:17; Dn 7:7-8, 24-25; 8:23-24; 9:27)11 is so very, very close! Do not be deceived! Come to ME now!

For Israel, I love you. Do you hear ME, Oh Israel? I love you. I desire to save you.

It is your choice. It will take persecution—such as this one that you speak to now,

has been persecuted and so many more. But I have MY Bride in Israel.

They are MY Hidden Bride. There is not just physical Israel and—there is Spiritual Israel. And I have MY Bride. For MY Spiritual Israel is in Israel also.

Oh MY Treasures! Read the Song of Solomon.See MY Love for you. See MY Love for MY Bride. You do not know how much I want to draw you by MY Side! And it won’t be long! It really won’t be long! I see your tears. I hear your grief. I watch as you cry and wail, “I don’t want to live on this earth anymore.”

You are surrounded by evil on all sides. But how do you think I feel?

When MY VERY NAME is despised? It won’t be long. Just don’t give up! Don’t you quit! The good work I’ve started, I’ll finish.

Teaching

Shabbat Shalom!

“The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of YAHUVEH comes.”(Joel 2:3)

Because this Shabbat follows the fast day on the 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av) when the First and Second Temples were destroyed, this week’s Torah Portion has a special name: Shabbat Nachamu /Sabbath of Comfort.

This name comes from the first lines of the Haftarah (prophetic portion) read on this day, which begins,“Comfort, oh comfort MY people, says your YAHUVEH.”

Today, the 15th of Av, is traditionally considered to be a day of comfort for Israel in history.

For example, it is believed the first generation of Israelites had stopped dying and the new generation were now ready to enter the promised land, which we will read a little about in this Torah portion.

Tonight also happens to usher in the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century, which will be visible from Israel with the moon fully eclipsed in Jerusalem at 11:21 pm.

For the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:3) and for Messiah YAHUSHUA (Luke 21:25), ominous signs in the heavens signal the coming of YAHUVEH, when the Lord will judge the living and the dead.

when the moon appears red like blood as Joel describes, it symbolizes the fall of the wicked.

Important note from Prophecy 125: I had a dream that we were covering the windows, then I took this to prayer with Kathrynyah.The Prophecy follows these instructions from Heaven. Do not look at the moon. Even if the eclipse is not visible in your country, it does not mean the evil has not gone forth, SO BE IN PRAYER!

Excerpt from Prophecy 125 “MY children, MY children, MY children!

When you see the darkness or you hear [of] the darkness that shall cover the moon, stay indoors! For when the moon turns red, it is time for my Holy ones to raise up and intercede and pray against the darkness!

Pray against the spiritual darkness, the curses, man’s inhumanity to man—for the governments that you thought you could trust across this world that was meant to protect the people—now I give you a new command—ask for protection [from all this]. For satan has a master plan.

Be not deceived. This is NOT, I, YAHUVEH’S wrath. So this moon is just a foreshadow. For my wrath to this world has not yet come, but it shall (Rev 6:16) and I, and I alone, the CREATOR of that moon, I, YAHUVEH will put another red moon when you least expect it. It shall NOT be as the scientists think.

I AM YAHUVEH!

Did I NOT stop time (Josh 10:13; Is 38:8)?

The Holy Scriptures do not lie!

‘How can you stop the revolving of the world, without everyone flying off?’

Yet I YAHUVEH, stopped time! Do you really think it’s impossible for me to bring another eclipse over the moon—and the moon shall turn into blood.”

Parasha Va’etchanan /And I Pleaded

Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11;

Isaiah 40:1–26;

John 10:1–42

“Then I pleaded [va’etchanan] with YAHUVEH at that time, saying: ‘O YAHUVEH ELOHIM, YOU have begun to show YOUR servant YOUR greatness and YOUR mighty hand, for what YAH is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like YOUR works and YOUR mighty deeds?”

(Deuteronomy 3:23–24)

In last week’s Torah portion, Devarim, the Israelites stood poised at the edge of the Promised Land, on the east side of the Jordan, ready to cross over and possess the Land.

Before they crossed, Moses summarizes for the people their 40-year history of wandering in the wilderness.

Included in this week’s Parasha are several of the best known and fundamental passages of Scripture in the entire Tanakh Old Testament, including the Ten Commandments and the Shema (Listen! or Hear and Do!)—a call in Deuteronomy 6:4–9 to love the one true YAHUVEH with all our being.

This passage also exhorts us to pass on our faith to the next generation by faithfully teaching the Torah to our children.

“Shema, Yisra’el! YAHUVEH Eloheinu, YAHUVEH echad [Hear, Isra’el! YAHUVEH our ELOHIM, YAHUVEH is one]; and you are to love YAHUVEH your ELOHIM with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.”

(Deuteronomy 6:4–5)

This is the first prayer spoken in the morning and the last said in the evening before sleep. It is often the final prayer on the lips of a Jewish person on their deathbed, and it has been uttered by many Jewish martyrs as they gave up their spirits to YAHUVEH.

These verses of Scriptures are so central to Judaism that they are written on a parchment and placed in a small box worn on the forehead called tefillin (phylacteries) and also in small, decorated boxes called mezuzot (plural of mezuzah) on the doorposts of Jewish homes.

This is done in literal fulfillment of commands found in this week’s Parasha:

“Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:8–9)

Preparing the Next Generation

This week’s Torah portion begins with Moses reminding the people of how he pleaded with YAHUVEH for the privilege of entering the Promised Land, but YAHUVEH refused to grant his request.

Moses would not enter the Promised Land because he disobediently struck the rock twice in the wilderness of Zin, instead of speaking to it as YAHUVEH had commanded. (Numbers 20)

This happened when the nation’s water well dried up after his sister Miriam died. Moses and Aaron prayed about the situation, and YAHUVEH told Moses to give the people water by speaking to the rock.

But Moses, who was angry with the people for their whining, called the people rebels and implied that it was he and Aaron who were providing for them.

Some have suggested that speaking to the rock might have symbolized speaking YAHUVEH’s Word as given to Moses, and striking the rock may have represented Moses’ effort.

Though Moses and Aaron were called to lead the Israelites, performing many signs and wonders, it was YAHUVEH who was providing for them, miraculously supplying life-giving water when necessary.

As a result, YAHUVEH told Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in ME enough to honor ME as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Numbers 20:12)

“‘Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.’ But because of you YAHUVEH was angry with me and would not listen to me. ‘That is enough,’ YAHUVEH said. ‘Do not speak to Me anymore about this matter.’” (Deuteronomy 3:25–26)

YAHUVEH said, “No.”

Although Moses would get a glimpse of the Land of Promise, he would be among those of his generation who would die in the wilderness because of their sins.

His successor, Joshua, would cross over the Jordan with the new generation of Israelites who would conquer the Land.

“But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” (Deuteronomy 3:28)

Joshua, whose Hebrew name is YAHUSHUA-YAH is Salvation, takes the people into the Promised Land, where they will take hold of all that YAHUVEH has promised.

He is a type of the Messiah. YAHUSHUA (which is a form of the name Yehoshua mean salvation) will one day take HIS people into the true Promised Land of Heaven where we will not perish but inherit eternal life.

We can learn a lesson from Moses remaining on the other side of the Jordan.

There are times when, despite our earnest begging and pleading, YAHUVEH in HIS perfect wisdom, justice, and mercy simply says “no,” and that is the end of the matter.

YAHUVEH may even ask us to encourage someone in the next generation who will carry the torch further than we have, and we need to accept this decision with a grace born of humility.

El Kanah: The Jealous GOD

Before Moses surrenders the leadership of Israel to Joshua, he exhorts the people to keep YAHUVEH’s Torah and to live in obedience to YAHUVEH’s ways so that they may take possession of the Land. He tells them:

“Now, Israel, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that YAHUVEH, the GOD of your fathers, is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1)

Moses reminds the children of Israel how they stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments. He warns them not to forget the Torah of YAHUVEH and to diligently teach YAHUVEH’s commandments to their children and grandchildren.

In telling them this, he reminds them three times that YAHUVEH spoke from the fire at Sinai in which HE did not have a form.

Therefore, because they saw no image of YAHUVEH, they are not to carve for themselves images of GOD, which is detrimental to faith, nor of other gods, which is idolatry.

This prohibition of making carved images is accompanied by the warning that YAHUVEH is a consuming fire:

“Watch out for yourselves, so that you won’t forget the covenant of YAHUVEH your GOD, which HE made with you, and make yourself a carved image, a representation of anything forbidden to you by YAHUVEH your GOD. For YAHUVEH your GOD is a consuming fire, a Jealous GOD [El Kanah].” (Deuteronomy 4:23–24)

The name of GOD used in this verse is El Kanah/Jealous GOD. This name is also mentioned elsewhere in this Parasha in Deuteronomy 5:9, 6:15, and in Exodus 34:14 (see also 1 Kings 19:10 and 14in which kanah is often translated as zealous).

The names and titles of YAHUVEH declare to the world who HE is. They also answer our deepest questions regarding our relationship to YAHUVEH.

The name El Kanah reveals that GOD is protective of HIS people and HIS relationship with them. In the same way that the relationship between a husband and a wife is sacred, HE will not share our praise and devotion with other gods.

In fact, the covenant YAHUVEH made with Israel at Mount Sinai is likened to a marriage ceremony.

It is complete with the cloud covering symbolizing the chuppah/marriage canopy and the ketubah/marriage contract, outlining the responsibilities and privileges of both bride and bridegroom and the agreed-upon vows.

YAHUVEH is, therefore, asking HIS people to be faithful unto HIM, forsaking all other gods. All forms of idolatry and worship of false gods is “spiritual adultery” (1 Cor. 10:6-11, James 4:4) and can be likened to an unfaithful spouse.

YAHUVEH lovingly and faithfully watches over HIS Bride, and jealously guards her, like a passionate husband protecting HIS bride.

Unfaithfulness and Exile

“YAHUVEH will scatter you among the peoples; and among the nations to which YAHUVEH will lead you away, you will be left few in number.” (Deuteronomy 4:27)

In this Parasha, Moses prophesies the tragic consequence of Israel straying from their devotion to YAHUVEH and turning to idols: they would be sent into exile (galut) and scattered to the four corners of the earth.

This is exactly what happened when the Babylonians and the Romans destroyed the Holy Temple and Jerusalem.

However, YAHUVEH is merciful; HE promised that if the people would repent and turn back to HIM with all of their heart and soul, then HE would relent and bring them back to the Land.

Indeed, in fulfillment of a great number of prophecies, including those of Moses, YAHUVEH did bring HIS people home from Babylon. And in these last days, HE is once again bringing HIS people home.

“In your distress, when all these things have come upon you, in the last days [acharit-hayamim], you will return to YAHUVEH your GOD and listen to what HE says; for YAHUVEH your GOD is a merciful GOD. HE will not fail you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors which HE swore to them.”

(Deuteronomy 4:30–31)

This miracle has happened in our very generation as Jewish people are returning to the Land of our forefathers from the north, south, east, and west. It is not because of our righteousness that we have come back to the Land, but because of the covenant YAHUVEH made with our ancestors.

Haftarah Va’etchanan: Comfort MY People

This week’s Haftarah (prophetic portion) is the first of a series of seven special Haftarot of Consolation that begin on the Shabbat following Tisha B’Av and continue until Rosh Hashanah /Jewish New Year.

These seven Haftarot follow three special Haftarot called the “Three of Rebuke,” which were read from Tammuz 17 to Av 9, the three weeks during which we mourn the destruction of the Temple and the onset of the exile of the Jewish People.

Isaiah 40 opens with a word of comfort to those who are in exile in Babylon and to the destroyed city of Jerusalem:

“Comfort, comfort MY people, says your GOD. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the YAHUVEH’s hand double for all her sins.”(Isaiah 40:1–2)

This week’s Divine consolation to the people of Israel declares reconciliation, restoration, renewal, and hope:

“A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of YAHUVEH; make straight in the desert a highway for our GOD.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
And the glory YAHUVEH shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of YAHUVEH has spoken.’” (Isaiah 40:3–5)

This prophecy of Isaiah would likely have been understood by the Israelites as an allusion to the ancient practice of eastern monarchs sending harbingers before them to prepare the way, leveling roads and removing impediments for the king.

Just as these monarchs prepared the way before themselves, YAHUVEH prepared the way before the Jewish slaves in Egypt, leading them to their Promised Land. HE would prepare the way again before the Jewish exiles in Babylon, leading them home.

And HE has prepared the way again, leading the Jews scattered throughout the nations (the Diaspora) back to a restored Land of Israel.

This passage also speaks of the future manifestation of YAHUVEH before the world, in which people would be led out of bondage to sin and into the Kingdom of Heaven.

YAHUVEH confirms the trustworthiness of this promise, stating that while all flesh is like grass, YAHUVEH’s Word stands firm forever. YAHUVEH is watching over HIS Word to perform it, and HIS promise to restore and save Israel is reliable and can be trusted by all.

Only YAHUVEH’s Word can restore what seems unrestorable, reconcile what seems irreconcilable, and comfort those who are without comfort.

The greatest comfort any Jewish person can receive is the security in knowing that their sins have been paid for once and for all by YAHUSHUA Ha MASHIACH.

“Comfort, comfort MY people, says your GOD. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from YAHUVEH’s hand double for all her sins.”(Isaiah 40:1–2)